Top Maoist leader arrested in West Bengal

August 03, 2012 17:01 IST

Top Maoist leader Ranjan Munda, who carried out subversive activities in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa, and another squad leader were arrested by the joint forces from West Midnapore district on Friday, police said.

Munda, involved in the kidnapping of Sankrail Police Station Officer-in-Charge Atindranathnath Dutta in October 2009 in the district and killings in Nayagram, was surrounded by the joint forces in a forested area at Chunghati, around 8 km from the Odisha border, at 2.30 pm, they said.

Munda, a squad leader of Nayagram-Gopiballavpur, and Jayanta, squad leader of Jhargram, did not offer resistance when they were arrested, they said, adding some other Maoists who were present fled.

An AK-47 rifle, an INSAS rifle, a pistol and 150 cartridges were seized from them. The arrest came close on the heels of that of another top Maoist leader Arnab Dam alias Vikram from the Biramdih railway station in Purulia district last month.

Maoist leader Kishenji was killed in an encounter with the joint forces at Burisole jungle also in the district on November 24 last year.